What) The Wright Brothers Memorial commemorates the first successful, sustained, powered flights in a heavier-than-air machine. From 1900 to 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright came here from Dayton, Ohio, based on information from the U.S. Weather Bureau about the area's steady winds. They also valued the privacy provided by this location, which in the early twentieth century was remote from major population centers.

    A 60-foot (18 m) tall granite monument, dedicated in 1932, is perched atop 90-foot-tall (27 m) Kill Devil Hill, commemorating the achievement of the Wright brothers. They conducted many of their glider tests on the massive shifting dune that was later stabilized to form Kill Devil Hill. Inscribed in capital letters along the base of the memorial tower is the phrase "In commemoration of the conquest of the air by the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright conceived by genius achieved by dauntless resolution and unconquerable faith." (1)

    Where) Mile post 7.5 on U.S. Highway 158     The Visitor Center is open daily from 9am - 5pm     Adults: $4.00

    Why) As you already know, I have not placed many historical events onto my Buckys lists.  This one feels different to me for some reason other than the large monument.  Regardless, getting here hinged on taking the Ocracoke ferry and even though we were on a two month vacation, we didn't really have enough time to do that so we had to skip this one.